How do I get from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe without flying?

Taking the bus is the best way to travel to Istanbul Europe without flying. The bus trip is an affordable, safe and convenient way to travel between the two cities. Alternatively, you can also use carpooling services.

How long is the bus ride from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

Traveling from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe takes about 9h 15m on average, but the fastest bus can get you there in about 7h 45m. This is the time it takes to travel the 315 miles (508 km) that separate the two cities.

How far is Thessaloniki from Istanbul Europe?

Thessaloniki and Istanbul Europe are 315 miles (508 km) apart.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

Most of the buses traveling from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe leave from Κ. Τ. Ε. Λ and arrive at İstanbul. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, go for the bus. $44 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Istanbul Europe from Thessaloniki.

How much does a bus ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe cost?

The bus ticket costs $53 on average. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $44 to $75, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in Istanbul Europe?

Once in Istanbul Europe, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), Turkish Baths, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and Istanbul Aquarium.

Can I take an overnight bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

Certainly! You can indeed opt for an overnight bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe. Make sure to pack a blanket and a snack to make your trip more comfortable.

Thessaloniki to Istanbul Bus Tickets

TodayApr 25

from $53

TomorrowApr 26

from $53

SunApr 27

from $53

MonApr 28

from $43

TueApr 29

WedApr 30

ThuMay 1

FriMay 2

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest + Fastest
Departure time: April 26 at 12:15am
Departure city: Thessaloniki
Departure location: Thessaloniki 28 Monastiriou Street
Arrival time: April 26 at 9:00am
Destination city: Istanbul Europe
Destination location: Esenler Otogar, Istanbul
Operated by: Arda Tur
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 45m
Departure time: April 26 at 8:30am
Departure city: Thessaloniki
Departure location: Thessaloniki 28 Monastiriou Street
Arrival time: April 26 at 5:50pm
Destination city: Istanbul Europe
Destination location: Esenler Otogar, Istanbul
Operated by: Arda Tur
Vehicle: BusDuration: 9h 20m
Departure time: April 26 at 8:00pm
Departure city: Thessaloniki
Departure location: Thessaloniki Simeonidis Tours Office
Arrival time: April 27 at 6:00am
Destination city: Istanbul Europe
Destination location: Esenler Otogarı
Operated by: Simeonidis Tours
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h
Departure time: April 26 at 5:30pm
Departure city: Thessaloniki
Departure location: Thessaloniki 28 Monastiriou Street
Arrival time: April 27 at 7:00am
Destination city: Istanbul Europe
Destination location: Esenler Otogarı
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 13h 30m
Departure time: April 26 at 8:45am
Departure city: Thessaloniki
Departure location: Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ
Arrival time: April 26 at 5:50pm
Destination city: Istanbul Europe
Destination location: Esenler Otogar, Istanbul
Operated by: Arda Tur
Vehicle: BusDuration: 9h 5m

Accepted payments

Bus Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$53

Average bus trip duration9h 15m

Number of daily buses6

Earliest bus departure12:15am

Distance313 miles (504 km)

Latest bus departure11:59pm

Compare bus companies

Arda Tur

3/5216 reviews

Staff3.7

Timeliness3.6

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi1.6

Customers have praised the service for its comfortable and clean coaches, as well as smart and safe drivers. The staff is described as kind and professional. However, some users noted a language barrier with drivers who only spoke Turkish.

Arda Tur Thessaloniki Istanbul Europe recent customer reviews

Generally very good - comfortable clean coach, smart and safe drivers. Unfortunately they only spoke Turkish, so I didn't understand what they were saying to us!

Andrew W.

June 7, 2024

First bus was cancelled and postponed by 4 hours. Bus taken arrived late in Istanbul with 2 hours more.

Francois C.

August 7, 2023

Not a special car for sleeping and no toilets in the car. Nevertheless, vers good drivers

Diana Zenke D.

July 16, 2023

FlixBus

3.5/58,391 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Simeonidis Tours

4/539 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.2

Customers mentioned that the drivers were friendly, but some found the bus to be dirty. There were extra stops made for picking up and dropping off passengers on random highway exits. However, customs procedures went smoothly. Some customers reported missing amenities like wifi, food, and drinks despite being charged more for the trip.

Simeonidis Tours Thessaloniki Istanbul Europe recent customer reviews

Drivers were friendly. Bus was a bit dirty. We made two extra stops; one to pick someone up (on a random exit off the highway) and one to drop someone off on the side of the highway. Customs went smoothly.

Chris D.

September 22, 2023

The trip had to include wifi food and drink and everything was missing and i was charged more

Farheen F.

August 21, 2023

the bus drivers were very nice but the younger driver that replaced the main one had crosseded the red traffic light and he was in a very high speed while we were already in Turky. If there was a car crossing from the opposite green light side then definitely a disaster accident could've happend but thanks God there was not. Most of the riders were asleep, it was a bit after 03am then.

Einas M.

November 1, 2022

TR bus companies: FlixBus, Infobus, FlixTrain, Union Ivkoni, LIKEBUS, Openline, Arda Tur

Thessaloniki to Istanbul Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Thessaloniki to Istanbul.

Discover how much the bus trip from Thessaloniki to Istanbul will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Thessaloniki and Istanbul?

Stops in Thessaloniki

A - Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ

B - Monastiriou

C - Selanik Makedonya KTEL Otogarı

D - Makedonya Şehirlerarası Otogarı

E - Michail Kalou 16

F - Selanik (Yunanistan)

Stops in Istanbul

A - İstanbul

B - Esenler Otogarı

C - Alibeyköy Otogarı

D - Büyükçekmece

E - Avcılar

F - Atakent

Frequently asked questions for your trip Thessaloniki - Istanbul Europe

How do I get from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe without flying?
How long is the bus ride from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?
How far is Thessaloniki from Istanbul Europe?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?
What is the cheapest way to travel from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?
How much does a bus ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe cost?
What are the best sights and things to do in Istanbul Europe?
Can I take an overnight bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/23

$53

04/24

$53

Today

$53

04/26

$53

04/27

$53

04/28

$44

04/29

$54

04/30

$53

The cheapest trip from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe was searched and found on Apr 28, 2025 with a price of $44

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $44 to $75 for a bus ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $44 which is on 2025-04-28.

Usually Flixbus (GR), STOU will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Thessaloniki and Istanbul Europe!

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe.

Did you know?

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

Will you be returning to Thessaloniki by bus?

Bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

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Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Thessaloniki to Istanbul

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Arda Tur Thessaloniki Istanbul Europe recent customer reviews

Simeonidis Tours Thessaloniki Istanbul Europe recent customer reviews

Thessaloniki to Istanbul Bus

Where are the popular stops in Thessaloniki and Istanbul?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Thessaloniki - Istanbul Europe

How do I get from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe without flying?

How long is the bus ride from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

How far is Thessaloniki from Istanbul Europe?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

What is the cheapest way to travel from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

How much does a bus ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe cost?

What are the best sights and things to do in Istanbul Europe?

Can I take an overnight bus from Thessaloniki to Istanbul Europe?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Thessaloniki by bus?

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Popular Buses Connecting Thessaloniki

Buses Leaving from Thessaloniki

Buses Going to Thessaloniki

Popular Buses Connecting Istanbul Europe

Buses Leaving from Istanbul Europe

Buses Going to Istanbul Europe

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers